Recipe #2: Blueberry Cheesecake
Continuing on with our Super Shake Series, it’s time for dessert! That’s right, just like the title says – the only way I can describe the flavor of this shake is by comparing it to a piece of cheesecake (with a blueberry flavor, of course). Now although I have never eaten a slice of blueberry cheesecake, I have tasted quite the assortment of cheesecake over the years. My wife and I even had strawberry cheesecake at our wedding for our version of the wedding cake. Long story short, I know what good cheesecake tastes like. This recipe is as close as you can get to the flavor of cheesecake in a Super Shake without adding massive amounts of additional sugar to your daily caloric intake.
The inspiration for this shake comes from my previous recipe, the Smooth and Creamy Peanut Butter Banana shake. There are no vegetables in this recipe, though, so it doesn’t follow the super shake template exactly as shown (you’ll see that Precision Nutrition adapts some of their recipes, too). Find what works for you – adapt as necessary.
Now, let’s get right down to it!
Step 1:
Gather your ingredients and begin by adding at least 16 oz. of milk of your choice (we used the Silk brand Almond & Coconut Milk) to your blender to form the liquid base. It is important that you use enough liquid; it will ensure a good consistency.
Step 2:
Add 2 scoops of vanilla protein powder. We used Integrated Supplements brand whey protein isolate as it has a small number of ingredients in the profile. It is available for purchase at Wal-Mart. This protein is also relatively cheap at regular price on the shelf for a whey protein isolate, which was a nice benefit from having it available at the store and not needing to wait for shipping from an online Amazon order. If you don’t have the time to order a high quality protein like Levels Organic Grass-Fed Whey Protein, which is our favorite, this is a good available option for most people. You can also use the vanilla protein powder that you already have, or can get from a local trip to the grocery store and make the most of your current situation.
Step 3:
Add in two cups of blueberries. Don’t skimp on the blueberries here as they are a key component of this shake’s flavor profile. Blueberries are extremely rich in antioxidants and fiber. They are a powerhouse for adding in quality nutrition to this shake, so be generous. We buy blueberries in bulk at our local Kroger when they are on sale and freeze them as pictured above in a large gallon-size Ziploc bag for making shakes like this. Think ahead and save some money in the long-term while you’re shopping!
Step 4:
Now, for the secret ingredient that gives this shake it’s cheesecake flavor…add in the cottage cheese! You may be thinking this is a pretty strange ingredient to blend in a shake, and I can’t blame you for that. Until you have actually tried this out all I can say is that this is one case where you should definitely not judge a book by it’s cover.
Now you could probably add in any cottage cheese to this shake to get a good texture, but I can’t say the same about the flavor. This cottage cheese on it’s own is my wife’s all-time favorite. Not only that, but Good Culture cottage cheese has 19 grams of grass-fed protein alongside celtic sea salt and live and active cultures to boost your probiotic intake in a 5.3 oz container. This is one ingredient that I highly recommend not skimping on. If you’re unable to get a hold of this cottage cheese, make the most you can with what you have. But if there is any way you can get a hold of it for this recipe, it will be well worth the investment. We added one 5.3 oz container as shown in the picture above.
Step 5:
Add in the remaining ingredients to your blender – around ½ to 1 tablespoon each of walnuts, flax seed, and chia seed should not impart too much overpowering flavor while adding in a nice dose of healthy fats and fiber. Toss on a teaspoon of cinnamon to top this one off and place the seal on your blender.
Step 6:
Blend for 30-60 seconds, pour into your choice of serving container (our favorites are Blender Bottles, if you can’t tell yet) and enjoy! Or, as we often like to, you could just drink right out of the blender…
Super shakes are fast food! Make sure that you plan ahead by stocking up on the ingredients that you need. You’ll be more prepared the next time you need to fuel on-the-go.
Home cooked meals are great when you have time. When you need to fuel yourself and can’t sit down at the dinner table, you don’t have to rely on the unhealthy fast food chains to fuel your body (that is, unless it’s Chipotle…). Make and take a super shake so you can keep on living your life without taking away from your health!